Some cities and towns have already complied with the law and have provided kiosks where people can bring their used needles, lancets and syringes, also known as sharps.

West Springfield has had a kiosk for the past three years in Town Hall at 26 Central St. where residents can dispose their sharps containers. In Longmeadow, residents will be asked to purchase mail-back boxes from the town. The boxes contain a safe sharps container.

McCool said it could cost up to $5,000 to fund some kind of needle disposal program.

She said some towns are leaving it up to residents to figure out how to dispose of their needles. McCool said mail-back containers for needles are available at local pharmacies.

"Towns are not required to provide a service to townspeople," McCool said on Thursday.

The board opted to continue the needle discussion to its meeting next month, as member Jayne G. Heede, a nurse, was absent.

The board has been trying to get the owners to clean the run-down former school on Bridge Street since 2010, and a court date had been scheduled for Monday in Housing Court in Springfield.

McCool said one of the owners, Karen Krohn, had a concussion and was unable to attend the hearing so it had to be rescheduled. The new court date regarding the state sanitary code violations at the school is July 23.

"I called her and told her we are not going to let this keep going," McCool said.

McCool said Krohn was apologetic, and McCool told her it is now up to the court to decide how much time to give her to make the property safe.